She waves a hand in the air as we march down the hallway. “But remember, even the kindest heart can harbor a nightmare. Just wait until they discover the darkness lurking behind your crown.”
Chapter
Twenty-One
The ominous clouds loom heavily overhead, their violent crimson hue igniting a sense of foreboding. The charged air prickles my skin, sending shivers down my arms, while the scent of impending rain teases my senses, heavy and electric.
The queen leads me around the edge of the palace until we find a large lawn lined with curious courtiers. Guys wearing playing cards bend backward, creating arches. What an odd position. My spine aches looking at them.
Rose bushes edge the gardens, and more card-wearing gardeners busily slather red paint onto the white roses. At least, I hope it’s paint. Nash growls low, and I raise a brow at him. What is his deal?
The Red Queen waves her hand, and four of the armored guards rush toward us with two unusual-looking creatures. They’re tall, feathered, and pink, their beady eyes nervously flicking around the scene. In their opposite hands, the guards carry moving sacks. I’m not sure I want to know what’s in there.
The Red Queen relinquishes my hand and smirks at her top guards, still staring at me.
Theo’s hand squeezes mine until I yelp. He drops it with a look of horror on his pretty face, and I turn and kiss him on the lips. “I’m okay,” I tell him as I stare into his stunning green gaze.
“We play for the souls of your winged beasts,” the Red Queen declares.
“We will do no such thing,” Nash snaps, clenching his fists.
She slides her eyes over my darkest knight. “You wish to take his place?”
Nash folds his arms. “No souls.”
I’m not sure digging our heels in is going to get us out of this situation.
Theo sneezes, and fire erupts from his mouth. A female courtier’s tall red hair catches alight. She screams and flaps her arms before running in a circle. Oh my Idols, why is no one helping her?
I dash forward and waft my hands in the general direction of the flames while she continues to run in circles. I turn in the opposite direction, and she collides with me, knocking us both to the ground.
“Drop and roll,” I grumble. “Does your kingdom never experience mishaps?” I smack the smoking hair and it flies off her head, rolling across the lawn, blackening the grass.
Holy Blazes. Did I just remove her head? Is that why the Red Queen is always threatening it? They literally just fall off.
Hart stomps on the head, and my mouth falls open. The fire is out, but I worry he’ll have squashed her face. Maybe she won’t notice once we pop her head back on?
A feminine screech makes my ears ring. I snap my eyes to the body below me, finding the woman staring at me in horror. “You ruined my hair.”
Ohh. That makes far more sense.
Nash offers me his hand and pulls me up.
The Red Queen notes the chaotic scene with interest. “You came to the aid of one of my subjects,” she says with a tilt of her head.
I dust my dress off. “Someone had to.”
She hums a dreadful tune at the back of her throat, the kind that sends chills down your spine. “Very well. We shall wager for your soul instead. Your pitiful collection of creatures is hardly worth my time.”
“Deal,” I declare, cutting off any chance for the others to meddle in my fate.
“Sounds good to me,” Charming calls out. Hamish and Eugene let out annoyed clucks at his sides.
Gwyneth hits his chest and steps forward, her eyes wide. “No,” she gasps, her voice trembling, the weight of impending doom thick in the air.
Even the thought of my potential loss doesn’t shake my resolve; after all, I know all too well that once the truth of my chaos spills out, they’ll all yearn to be rid of me. How are they forgetting this? Have a little faith.
“I can’t bear to watch this,” the genie says dramatically, throwing an arm over his face before poofing out. Sir Sweeps-A-Lot hovers at Gwyneth’s side, vibrating like he’s trying to figure out how to help.
